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Monday, November 03, 2014: Are you a user and ardent fan of a Sony Xperia device? If yes, then you need a special warning now. If you are using a Sony Xperia device which runs on Android 4.4.2 or Android 4.4.4, then a custom ROM is a must in your device. Are you wondering why? Well, then you must know the fact that there is a spyware called Baidu in the stock firmware of these devices, as several reports have claimed.



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This spyware is sending user data to China servers. On the Sony forums, a user called Elbird, has claimed that this spyware helps the Chinese government read status and identity of a device, without your knowledge it can make pictures and videos, track exact location, access active accounts, alter security settings, get control on users' network, access all the apps in use, prevents device entering sleep mode and change all kind of settings like audio and more. Check out the forum here. Baidu appears as a folder in Xperia devices.



This folder is said to be created automatically without even an owner's consent and it cannot be deleted anyhow. Even if it gets removed somehow, it gets restored itself. It's said to be created by Sony's 'my Xperia' service whenever a new connection is added and this folder keeps updating the China server. If any device has this folder then the spyware is there but if the folder is not there, then there is not much concern yet. Reports have confirmed that affected devices include Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact as of now. Sony company has already been familiar to the issue and is working to fix the bug in their next software update. Moreover, the Baidu folder is said to be present in other smartphones too like HTC One M7, HTC One X and OnePlus One. To disable the spyware follow the below mentioned steps:



1. Take back-up of all your important data and factory reset the device.



2. Go to Settings >> Apps >> Running and Force stop both “MyXperia” apps.



3. Remove Baidu folder with the help of File Kommander app.



4. Enable developer mode by going to Settings >> About Phone >> Click 7 times on the Build number.



5. Download and install Android SDK on your PC/laptop and connect Xperia device



6. Run adb tool terminal – adb shell



7. Type command - pm block com.sonymobile.mx.android



8. Exit adb shell



9. Reboot the device.